Characters

Swimming

Nearly all scallops species (except cementing species) have some type of swimming ability. Most species exhibit a righting reflex or jumping behavior - a locomotory escape response by ejecting water ventrally on either side of the hinge in a rapid series of valve adductions. This propels the animal with its hinge (dorsal) forward. In contrast, some species are active swimmers, or gliders, and can move through the water by self-propulsion for longer durations. For example, a single swimming burst can move the scallop of some species over 10 meters! Water is ejected dorsally on either side of the hinge in a rapid series of valve adductions, propelling the animal with its ventral edge first. Although many scallop species (except cementing species) exhibit some type of swimming ability, such as a righting reflex or jumping - a locomotory escape response, these behaviors do not define the life habit of the adult. In contrast, gliding has specific behavioral characteristics, including the direction (ventral edge foremost), distance of the movement, the high frequency of adductions, and is typically is associated with a specific shell morphology (e.g. a circular shell outline, little or no shell sculpture, symmetrical valves and A-P auricles, and a shallow byssal notch).